Wednesday 27 Sep 2017

Move and Learn project returns to Northern Ireland

The Irish FA Foundation is once again supporting a major programme which encourages primary school kids to be active and have a healthy diet.

The foundation, global confectionery company Ferrero and the football charity EFL Trust have revealed they are embarking on the secondyear of their +Sport Move and Learn partnership in Northern Ireland.

The programme encourages primary school children to take part in physical activity while helping them to understand the importance of a balanced diet and an active lifestyle.

The +Sport Move and Learn Project is part of Ferrero’s global Kinder + Sport CSR initiative that has already encouraged 15 million children across the world to follow an active lifestyle.

Over the course of six weeks children from Year 5 will spend time in the classroom learning about the body, nutrition and the importance of exercise through participating in interactive activities. This is then followed by a session dedicated to playing football, dodgeball or handball, with two weeks spent on each sport.

In year one the Irish FA Foundation delivered the programme in 24 schools to 918 children. This year it will be reaching 15 schools and 900 children.

The first schools taking part in 2017-18 are Howard Primary School in Dungannon, Central Primary School, Model Primary School and St Nicholas Primary School (all Carrickfergus) and Cairncastle Primary School in Co Antrim.

Maura Denny, Schools and Futsal Administrator with the foundation, said: “It’s vital that we educate children from a young age on a balanced diet and encourage an active lifestyle.

“The Kinder +Sport Move and Learn Project is a really fun and interactive project engaging hundreds of children each year. I’m extremely proud to be able to support such an important programme.”

A spokesperson from Ferrero said: “We are delighted to be working with the Irish FA again this year for the +Sport Move and Learn Project, an integral part of Ferrero’s Kinder + Sport Corporate Social Responsibility programme.

“Our partnership with the EFL Trust and all our member clubs has gone from strength to strength in recent years, and we are proud that together we have inspired thousands of children to discover new ways to enjoy a healthy and active lifestyle.”

Image: Kids from Gilnahirk Primary in east Belfast have fun taking part in last year’s +Sport Move and Learn activities.